Tag dispenser

Abstract

A tag container has a dispensing wall and contains a plurality of tags which are stackable in parallel to the dispensing wall. In the top wall of the container is a dispensing opening through which tags may be dispensed from the container by a slider which is slideable up and down along the dispensing wall. The slider includes a pusher portion which engages the bottom edge of a tag to push it upwardly and out through the dispensing opening.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tag dispenser for use with a fastener and tag dispensing device, comprising: a tag container for containing a plurality of tags, said tag container having a top wall and a dispensing wall, wherein the tags are stackable in said container in parallel with said dispensing wall;   a dispensing opening in said top wall through which tags are dispensed one tag at a time from said container;   slide means, slideable along said dispensing wall, and having a pusher portion for pushing a tag partially out of said container through said dispensing opening;   means for moving said slide means up and down along said dispensing wall, said tag being pushed partially out of said container on the upward stroke of said slide means; and   means for preventing retraction of said tag on the downward stroke of said slide means;   whereby, when a first tag is in a dispensing position along said dispensing wall, a second tag is engaged by said pusher portion and pushed up behind said first tag so that when said first tag is removed, said second tag will be in said dispensing position.   
     
     
       2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispensing opening is disposed on the edge of said top wall adjacent the top edge of said dispensing wall. 
     
     
       3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2 and further including a guide wall extending downwardly from said dispensing wall; a slot extending longitudinally along said guide wall and continuing partway along said dispensing wall;   said slide means being movable along said slot.   
     
     
       4. A dispenser as defined in claim 3 wherein said slide means comprises a slider portion, slideable in said slot, and a pusher portion, having a top edge, attached to said slider portion in the interior of said container; whereby, the slider means can be lowered along said slot so that the top edge of the pusher portion underlies the container and whereby, when the slider means is subsequently raised, the top edge of the pusher portion will engage the bottom edge of a tag adjacent said dispensing wall and push the tag upwardly and out through said dispensing opening.   
     
     
       5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4 and further including spring means for maintaining the stack of tags in the interior of said container pressed toward said dispensing wall. 
     
     
       6. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 wherein said dispensing opening has an outer edge coincident with said dispensing wall and an inner edge spaced inwardly from said outer edge on the top wall; backplate means extending upwardly from adjacent said inner edge, said backplate means including stop means spaced from the top edge of said dispensing wall;   whereby, a tag pushed out of said dispensing opening will slide along said backplate means and the upward motion of said tag will be arrested by said stop means.   
     
     
       7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein each tag to be dispensed has a common thickness and a common length; the top edge of said pusher portion being raisable to only a predetermined level of said dispensing wall;   the distance from said predetermined level to said stop means being equal to said common length;   and further including spacer means on said dispensing wall on each side of said slot between said predetermined level and the bottom edge of said dispensing wall, said spacer means having a thickness equal to said common thickness;   the width of said dispensing opening being twice said common thickness; and   the thickness of the top edge of said pusher portion being twice said common thickness.   
     
     
       8. A dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for moving is manually operable. 
     
     
       9. A dispenser as defined in claim 7 for use with a device having a movable trigger means; said means for moving being movable in synchronism with the motion of said trigger means.